Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq
Posted by Rajib - 08/04/09 at 04:04:34 am
President Obama made an unexpected surprise tour to Iraq on Tuesday, stopping to visit American troops and leaders before returning to Washington from his first overseas trip as president. The visit marks his third to Iraq, but his first as the commander in chief.
Air Force One was landed at Baghdad International Airport at 4:42 pm with president. Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama admired cheering soldiers in Baghdad in his four-hour visit and said he would stand by his promise to withdraw all fighting troops by 2011. Obama told the troops the next 18 months are critical to the mission. U.S. troops are predictable to be out of the country by the end of 2010. President greets lots of military personnel and said for them,
You’ve kept your eyes focused on just doing your job and because of that, every mission that’s been assigned, from getting rid of Saddam to reducing violence to stabilizing the country to facilitating elections; you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary achievement and for that you have the thanks of the American people.
A total of 4,266 U.S. troops have lost their lives in Iraq since March 2003, and he said the forces had “performed brilliantly … under enormous strain.”
Obama as well assembled with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who assured the president that all the improvement that has been occur in the security area will carry on. But, Obama’s visit was actually vital for the U.S. military. His appearance pleased troops interviewed by reporters. They said they were appreciative the new president came to visit so quickly after taking office.
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